RESTAURANTS
Art D’Elia
International Dairy Queen, a Bloomington-based owner and operator of franchised ice cream and fast-food restaurants, announced that Art D’Elia joined the company as chief operating officer, U.S. and Canada. D’Elia previously spent seven years at Domino’s Pizza, where he led the international business and served as chief marketing officer.
ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS
CLUTCH, a Minneapolis-based advertising and consultancy agency, announced the addition of Sean Rustad as VP, Building Materials and Construction. Rustad previously was with Lee Building Products in Bowling Green, Ky., where he was vice president of Sales and Marketing. Rustad is a native of northern Minnesota.
AIRPORTS
The Metropolitan Airports Commission announced Christopher Roy as director of project delivery for Airport Development, responsible for aviation-related construction programs across the MAC airport system. Roy previously was with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, most recently as assistant director of operations. MAC owns and operates Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and six general aviation airports in the Twin Cities.
ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING
Golden Valley-based engineering and consulting firm WSB announced the hiring of Josh Maus as vice president of traffic modeling and planning.
ENTERTAINMENT
Six Points Theater, a St. Paul theater company that produces works with a Jewish perspective, announced that Art Allen has been named managing director, a new position. Allen is an event producer and former escape room owner.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Stearns Bank, St. Cloud, announced the promotion of Heather Plumski to president. Plumski previously served as the bank’s EVP, chief financial and strategy officer. She succeeds Kelly Skalicky in the president’s role; Skalicky will remain the bank’s CEO. … First Independence Bank, Minneapolis, announced its inaugural Advisory Council: Tiffani Daniels, General Mills; Channon Lemon, Intent Energy; Samuel Ndely II, Minneapolis Foundation; Marcus Owens, NAWE Inc., and Brooke Roper, Hopkins School Board.
FOOD
Hormel Foods Corp., an Austin, Minn.-based provider of grocery store prepared food brands, announced that Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of The Hormel Foundation, has been re-appointed to the Hormel Foods board of directors. Ettinger retired in 2016 as president and chief executive officer of Hormel. The Hormel Foundation is an unaffiliated nonprofit.
HONORS
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, a public transportation agency serving seven communities in the south metro, announced its “En Route” marketing campaign was recognized with a national award from the American Public Transportation Association. The “En Route” strategy revolved around collecting and sharing personal stories of riders, shifting the perception of transit from a logistical service to a community-building experience.
LAW
Maslon, Minneapolis, announced the addition of former federal prosecutor Samantha H. Bates to the firm’s Litigation Group. Bates joins Maslon after serving for six years as an assistant U.S. attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. … Moss & Barnett, Minneapolis, announced that attorney Shannon E. Cook has rejoined the firm, focusing on representing lenders in the multifamily secondary real estate market. … National law firm Cozen O’Connor announced the following leadership changes in its Minneapolis office: Chris Bellini promoted to co-vice chair office managing partner; Katie Gettman, co-vice chair of the corporate practice group, and Miguel Pozo appointed to the firm’s Culture and Belonging Committee.
NONPROFITS
Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute, a St. Paul-based organization dedicated to promoting literacy and youth leadership development, announced the following new board members: Laura Esanbock, Securian Financial, and Samuel MacCaulley, Sambatek.
OPENINGS
National clothing outlet Nordstrom Rack announced the opening of a location at Fischer Marketplace, 14949 Florence Trail, Apple Valley.
TECHNOLOGY
The Developers Alliance, a national trade group, announced the addition of Sean Higgins to its advisory board. Higgins is chief executive officer of BetterYou, a St. Paul-based AI habit-building app focused on wellness solutions.
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